Method for Controlling a Mobile Device

1. A method for controlling a mobile device, the mobile device being placed on a holder, the mobile device comprising an interface plate configured to be touched by an object so as to control the mobile device, the mobile device comprising at least two movement sensors configured to detect a vibration propagating through the mobile device, the method comprising: a) applying the object to the holder at a point of impact, the point of impact being located outside the interface plate, the application of the object leading to a propagation of a vibration that propagates along the holder, toward the mobile device; b) detecting, with each movement sensor, of the at least two movement sensors, the vibration, at a detection time; c) comparing the detection time detected by each movement sensor, respectively; d) estimating a position of the point of impact, on the holder, depending on the comparison carried out in c); and e) generating a control signal for the mobile device depending on the position estimated in d); wherein: the interface plate is connected to at least one actuating transducer configured to exert a pressure on the interface plate so as to form a bending wave that propagates along the interface plate, at a resonant frequency, and that leads to a vibration of the interface plate; at least one of the at least one actuating transducers forming one of the at least two movement sensors; and the resonant frequency is within the ultrasonic domain so that a sensation of texture is obtained when touching the interface plate; and wherein the method further comprises estimating a force applied on the interface plate when the interface plate is touched, the estimation of the force comprising: vibrating the interface plate, using the at least one actuating transducer, so that the bending wave propagates along the interface plate; imposing a set-point amplitude to the bending wave; following the application of the force to the interface plate, applying feedback to the at least one actuating transducer so as to maintain the set-point amplitude; and estimating the force based on the feedback.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one movement sensor, of the at least two movement sensors, is an accelerometer.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one movement sensor, of the at least two movement sensors, is a piezoelectric sensor connected to the interface plate and configured to detect a vibration of the interface plate.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein each of the at least two movement sensors is a piezoelectric sensor.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: in c), the comparison determines a chronological order in which each movement sensor, of the at least two movement sensors, detects the vibration; and in d), the point of impact is located depending on the chronological order resulting from c).

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between the at least two movement sensors is larger than 5 cm.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: the mobile device comprises an emitting circuit; and the method further comprises: f) emitting an emission signal, by wireless link, intended for a remote receiver.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a smart phone or a portable tablet computer.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is removably placed on the holder.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: the interface plate extends, in a plane, over an area; and the holder extends over an area larger than three times or five times the area of the interface plate.

11. A mobile device, comprising: a microprocessor; at least two movement sensors configured to detect a vibration propagating through the mobile device; and an interface plate configured to be touched by an object so as to control the mobile device, the interface plate being connected to at least one actuating transducer configured to exert a pressure on the interface plate so as to form a bending wave that propagates along the interface plate, at a resonant frequency, and that leads to a vibration of the interface plate; wherein: the mobile device is configured to be placed on a holder; the microprocessor is configured to implement, following application of the object to the holder at a point of impact, steps c) to e) of a method according to claim 1 on the basis of detection signals generated by the at least two movement sensors, at least one of the at least two movement sensors being an actuating transducer; the resonant frequency lies within the ultrasonic domain; and the mobile device is configured to estimate a force applied on the interface plate, when the interface plate is touched, the estimation of the force comprising: vibrating the interface plate, using the at least one actuating transducer, so that the bending wave propagates along the interface plate; imposing a set-point amplitude to the bending wave; following the application of the force to the interface plate, applying feedback to the at least one actuating transducer so as to maintain the set-point amplitude; and estimating the force based on the feedback.

12. The mobile device according to claim 11 , wherein at least one movement sensor, of the at least two movement sensors, is a piezoelectric sensor, connected to the interface plate and configured to detect a vibration of the interface plate.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the resonant frequency lies between 10 kHz and 200 kHz.